BiosMagazine takes a look at the U.S. Robotics USB Telephone Adapter. It's the only adapter intelligent enough to forward Skype calls to your mobile phone for when you're not near a PC. You can even make Skype calls from your mobile phone to avoid long-distance charges. The device connects to both your PC for Internet calling and a standard telephone line, and there's a call waiting feature for both Skype and standard phone calls.

When you have the USR9620 connected to a regular telephone line, you can place and receive regular telephone calls as you normally would - and without your PC being on. The first time Skype is run you need to grant your new kit access to Skype by selecting the appropriate radio button. For established Skype users, who previously worked direct from their computer desktop display, a different approach will be required for making a connection with the telephone adapter. Rather than simply clicking on an entry in your contact list, you will need to assign each contact with a two-digit speed dial number. We're not sure how those with lots and lots of contacts will cope!

Once the speed dial allocations have been completed you can then call a contact using the phone - but only if you follow a set designated routine. This involves pressing the hash key twice to get the VoIP dial tone; enter the speed dial number before concluding the sequence with an asterisk key press. In time you will get used to this method, but we found it less than user-friendly and had us longing for the point-and-click method used previously.

Forwarding of incoming Skype calls to mobile phones or landline phones and vice versa means you will no longer have to stop using Skype's low-cost calling services when you are away from your computer. Simply configure the USR9620 to forward unanswered Skype calls to another phone number and the USB Telephone Adapter will forward the Skype call over the PSTN connection. You can also access Skype via the PSTN or mobile network by dialling in to your R9620 to place Skype and Skype Out calls from any remote location.